The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1887-11-08
FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE.
Dangerous Illness of the Crimea's Noble
Heroine,

|
Heroine.
LONDON, October 29.-The world may soor
hear OF the death of that great-heated Englist
heroine, Florence Nightingale. Though men
tally as brilliant as she ever was in her better
days, she has never been physically sound since
she was Frustrated by severe fever in 1856
while nursinng the Crimea's wounded soldiers
| wounded soldiers in the hospital on the Bos-
| phorus For years she has maintained he1
| courage against great odds, hut the struggle is
| nearly over. Her long and benefcent life Is
| drawing to a close.
The Right Honorable Sir Harry Varney, the
we'll known nephew of Miss Nightingale, tells
| me that his beloved and honored relative is
critically i'll and has lang been confined a pris-
| oner Ill her home at No. 10 South street, Park
| Lane. She is dying from the direct conse-
| quences of the fever contracted i'll the Crimea
| 1t is genial failing of the system, wasting
away from the effects of her perilous labors
during the days in which she devoted her life
to the soldiers wounded in battle.
And yet Miss Nightingale, though very much
OF sufferer at times, is remarkably patient
through it all and gives the few friends who
are allow to see her an example of Christian
forttude quite as remarkable as her courageous
charity and benevolence in the past. Her home
in Park Lane IS handsomely furnished. and
contains countless rare and valabe gifts pre-
sented TO her by her admirers after her return
from the Crimean war. There are also innu-
merabe letters from people of prominence the
world over, and various mementoes of her
friendship with the conspicuous characters in
Europe and America who have been proud of
their acquaintance with this remarkable wo-
man. These testimonials of the reverence in
which the whole world holds her are very
precious to the venerable lady, but more for
the sake of the givers than from any feelingof
pride. She is modesty itself.
Her intimate friendships have been illustri-
Gus. Her natural hatred of wrong and tyranny
led Miss Nightingale to espouse the cause of
right and progress. During the civil war in
America her sympathies were warmly with the
northern side i'll the struggle, and in the long
contest which has been going on for the liber-
alton OF Ireland, her active sympathies have
gone out to the home rule cause. John Bright
Gladstone and all the liberal leaders of Eng
land have long been her ardent friends. She
is a great admirer of America and its institu-
tions, believing firmly in the theory of self-gov-
eminent For many years she was on the
closest terms of friendship with Henry Ward
Beecher, and nothing for a long time so affect
ed the venerable lady as the news of his death.
The character of Abraham Lincoln she regards
as one of the grandest in history.
1t is but natural therefore, that no tributes
to Florence Nightingale's worth have been
more eloquent than those which have come
from America. The late President Garfield
once said in addressing class of young ladies'
Emulate the example of Florence Nightin-
gale that charity angel of modern times, whose
hearts of all mankind, for ages yet unborn will
sing the glory of her proud renown." Equally
eloquent lrave been the praises of Abraham
Lincoln Henry Ward Beecher, George y.
Prentice, Mr.. Talmage, Helen Hunt Jackson,
and scores of others.
When this eminent lady passes from earth
England would not consent to her remains
resting anywhere but in the nations pantheon,
Westminster Abby Not only would England
demand this honor for the Crimeas heroine,
but Englands queen, who has always treated
her with marked consideration andtrue friend
ship, would order it done. And there is little
doubt that Miss Nightingales learned friend,
Canon FaTa, would conduct the public serv-
ices. This is the only proper resting place for
one who has filled such large place in the
worshipful regard of not only England, but the
world. The poor and distressed thousands of
this crowded city will lose their trueSt friend
and benefactor when Florence Nightingale is
dead.
Her life has been a wonderful chapter of
self-sacrfce. She was born in Florence, Italy,
May 3, 1920, and carefully educated by her
father, William Nightingale of Lea Hurst,
Derbyshire, England. For many patient years
she trained herself in the hospitals of England
and Germany for the duties of attending on
the sick, but it was not till 1854 that the great
mission of her life appeared to open before her.
The hospitals of the Crimea, to which Briton's
brave men were removed from the battlefields,
were horribly managed. Something had to be
done, and the courageous Florence Nightingale
undertook the task. With a corps of trained
women she went boldly to the front, where her
talent and energy soon brought order out of
chaos and brought her the undying blessings of
the sick and wounded, and gained her fame
that will never grow dim.
With her usual beneyoence size offered to
charity the magnificent fund OF 100000 which
grateful England raised as a reward for serv-
ices. But she still has the gorgeous cross set
with diamonds which the queen sent her, and
the bracelets set with brilliants that was pre-
scented by the Sultan of Turkey For many
years her health has made it impossible for
Miss Nightingale to take an active part in
deeds of charity, but she has Written much and
taught others how to carry out her benevolent
plans
One of the most beautiful and touching
things in Miss Nightingale's busy life has been
her intimacy with Jenny Lind. Though be-
ginning their missions in widely different
spheres, these tive great spirits have been
lence, and pursued their charitable career hand
in hand. 1t was nearly the same time when
Florence Nightingale started to nurse the
wounded in the Crimean war that Jenny Lind
left to charm America with her wonderful
voice. After years of unobtrusive charities,
Jenny Lind, hopelessly paralyzed, is awaiting
the approach of death, while her illustriouS
friend, the great eXemplar of organized public
benevolence, is sinking to her last sleep. There
is but one years difference in their ages, and
both will probably be consigned to eternity to-
gether, as they have loved and acted together
in their beautiful and historic lives.